UC Santa Cruz / Financial aid
Paying for UC Santa Cruz
The sticker price is rarely what families pay. Here is what UC Santa Cruz actually costs after aid, broken down by income, with the real numbers and a calculator for your situation.
Estimate your cost
An estimate from published averages, not an offer. Always run UC Santa Cruz's official net price calculator and file the FAFSA/CSS Profile for your real number.
Average net price by family income
The full cost
UC Santa Cruz cost & aid FAQ
How much does UC Santa Cruz cost after financial aid?
The average family pays about $16,526 per year at UC Santa Cruz after grants and scholarships, against a sticker price of $43,077. Use the calculator to estimate your own net price by family income.
What does UC Santa Cruz cost by family income?
At UC Santa Cruz, the average total net price (tuition, room, board and fees, after aid) is about $10,872 per year for families earning under $30,000 and about $32,720 for families earning over $110,000. Net price rises with income because most aid is need-based.
Does UC Santa Cruz offer free tuition?
Yes. UC Santa Cruz waives tuition for families earning under $100,000 a year. That covers tuition itself; room, board and fees may still apply, so the total cost can be above zero.
Does UC Santa Cruz give financial aid to international students?
Limited aid for international students, mostly merit. International applicants should confirm aid policies directly with UC Santa Cruz's financial aid office.
Does UC Santa Cruz meet full financial need?
Does not meet full need for everyone. Meeting need means the school aims to cover the gap between its cost and what your family can pay, as determined by the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
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